The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play one of their most important games of the season right off the bat in Week 1, traveling to Atlanta to face the NFC South rival Falcons.
The Falcons are expected to be Tampa Bay’s biggest threat in the division after sweeping the Bucs in 2024 and further improving their roster in a strong offseason.
Unfortunately for the Buccaneers, they could be entering the crucial season opener shorthanded as injuries continue to pile up.
The latest concern is at tight end. Cade Otton is now questionable for Week 1 after suffering an additional leg injury on top of a lingering hamstring issue that limited him throughout the preseason.
“He’s sore. I mean he’s got another leg injury in addition to that [hamstring injury], so he’ll be out a little bit,” head coach Todd Bowles told reporters.
That’s a tough blow for a team already missing two offensive cornerstones. All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs remains sidelined as he works back from offseason knee surgery, while Chris Godwin Jr. continues to rehab from a second procedure on the dislocated ankle he suffered in Week 7 last year.
If Otton is unable to suit up, the Buccaneers will be dangerously thin at tight end with Payne Durham, Ko Kieft, and Devin Culp as the remaining healthy options. That group will need to step up in a big way for an already handicapped offensive unit.
The Bucs will have their work cut out for them in Atlanta. With the Falcons looking to prove they’re ready to take over the NFC South, this season opener could set the tone for the season and carry major playoff implications down the line.